Big Brother star AXED last minute – as chaos erupts behind the scenes of Network Ten’s reboot

by

Australians who watch reality TV instantly recognize it: a powerful, memorable sound that brings back a flood of memories.

After being the iconic voice of Big Brother for over twenty years, Leon Murray has suddenly stopped performing the role.

The Daily Mail has learned that the experienced voice actor was unexpectedly removed from Network Ten’s new version of the show right before it premiered, causing upset among those working on it and anger from devoted viewers.

Leon was the voice of ‘Big Brother’ on both the original Channel Ten and subsequent Channel Nine broadcasts, and he became well-known for delivering the show’s iconic line, ‘Big Brother is watching you.’

When his unique voice appeared in a recent Ten network ad, many fans thought it meant he was returning to the show.

But according to production insiders, the excitement was short-lived.

As a huge fan, we all thought we were finally getting what we wanted – the deal seemed done! The announcements were already being made and everyone was so excited. But then, suddenly, it all just fell through. It was incredibly disappointing.

A return to television for a well-known voice turned complicated due to disagreements and contract issues.

Following initial discussions and the creation of promotional content, talks apparently hit a snag when Network Ten hesitated over Murray’s payment, which was around $800 for each voice recording.

Each line, insiders claim, would be billed separately every time Big Brother spoke.

Someone familiar with the situation said viewership numbers were declining, causing concern. Leon requested a salary that acknowledged his long history with the network, but producers weren’t willing to meet his demands.

Murray reportedly wanted more control over the show’s creative direction, to be credited as a producer, and to be able to publicly announce his role as the voice of Big Brother.

The executives were firm in their refusal. According to a source, they preferred the voice to remain anonymous, rather than being associated with a recognizable personality or brand.

‘That’s part of the magic – Big Brother isn’t supposed to be a celebrity.’

After talks fell apart, producers reached out to Pete Cunningham, a voice actor from the Gold Coast who had previously been mentored by Murray.

Cunningham has been told to perform his lines very similarly to how they were done before, which has worried some longtime staff members who were involved in previous seasons of the show.

‘Pete was trained under Leon, and he mimics him almost perfectly,’ an insider revealed. 

‘It’s basically a photocopy voice. You’d think it was Leon until you really listen.’

But the double standard hasn’t gone unnoticed.

Apparently, Murray was asked to keep quiet about being on the show and avoid associating himself with the “Big Brother” name. However, fellow contestant Cunningham has already been advertising his company, Glo Events, on social media and mentioning his time on the show.

According to a source, Network Ten knowingly allowed Leon to promote himself in this way. He feels there’s a double standard at play and views the situation as hypocritical.

Read More

2025-11-10 10:48